Someday I'll be........

Sunday, 2 January 2011

One of the things over there on my list for 2011 is to read more books. I love reading, but just don't allow myself enough time for it (which I should now, as the husband kindly got me a lovely swish Kindle for Christmas).

No matter what I do, I can't interest Cara in reading at all. She has always been the child who does things in her own time and not a moment before. She didn't give up breast feeding till she was ready. She didn't start speaking till she was ready. I'm hoping one day - when she is ready - she will sleep the entire night in her own bed!

Anyway - in an attempt to encourage her a little more, I've decided that bedtime stories are going to be actual stories - something which we can read a chapter each night from. So, we trundled off to the library last week and came away with several Rainbow Fairy books. So far, she seems to be enjoying them. She is asking for more than one chapter each evening and has also started asking if we can read it during the day too. I've already started gently saying that when she learns to read, she will be able to read them herself. I can't see this happening anytime soon though - I think she enjoys listening while she is drawing or writing!

Saturday, 1 January 2011

I don't really tend to make resolutions as they never seem to stick. This year instead, I am making a list of things I would like to achieve. It's a work in progress, so I'll be adding to it as the year goes on.

One thing I'm hoping to do is to complete a photo a day project. I first started this back in 2007, but made it to the October before giving up. I started again in 2008 and managed a whole 365 photos, which I love looking back on. So...I decided to try it again. I'm not going to beat myself up too much about the quality of the photos, so I'm thinking most of them will probably be 'snaps'.

I was excited to start and even stayed up till midnight to take today's photo. I'm really proud of it!

Saturday, 9 October 2010

It's turning into a roller coaster of a term at work - every day brings new news and challenges and as a school, we are all facing changes. I don't think I've worked this hard since my NQT year!

Anyway - yesterday morning, in the car, Cara was asking about hearing dogs. So we were talking about what they do, who they help, how they help etc. End of conversation. Then, yesterday afternoon, we were in the car again. She said something and I misheard her "you should get a hearing dog" she told me. She just makes me laugh so much.

Monday, 13 September 2010

Earlier on, Cara asked me what she should draw. I said to her, "why don't you draw a beautiful house." I then went to step class, leaving her with the husband. I've just this minute got back to a dark and silent house. I crept upstairs and they are snuggled up together, sound asleep. This was on my pillow:

Not only is it an astonishingly beautiful house, but just there, in the middle and to the left a bit is my name 'mummy' (written backwards!). I think my heart may have melted a little bit when I saw it. It was well worth going to the gym for.

Friday, 10 September 2010

Cara started 'big' school a week and a bit ago. She has been doing mornings only this week. Next week she stays for lunch and then the following week, she will be full time. Even in just one week, she already seems so much more grown up.

I asked her today if she is enjoying school. "Yeah...it's really quite fun actually" she replied.

Sunday, 5 September 2010

Cara has a new love - the paddling pool at the Strand. We've now been every weekend for the past three - today being no different! The only thing different today was the temperature of the water though - one quick feel and she soon changed her mind, settling for the park instead!

Saturday, 21 August 2010

Cara's cousins came to play today and we had a lovely day. Sometimes, if they spend too long together, they get to the point where they start to bicker, so I made sure we got out and about, not giving them much time to bicker.

We started off with a walk to the local library. Then we called in Tesco to get something for lunch. When we got home, they had lunch. Then they played in the garden for a while, then we went to the Strand, a local play area. Despite the fact it's August and therefore Summer, it wasn't exactly too warm. They didn't seem at all bothered though and loved the paddling pool. Cara was the only one to get wet. She bent down to scoop up some water to throw and in doing so, dipped her bottom in the water. Cue soaking wet shorts. She was pleased though as she got to sit on the towel on the way home!

To do....

2012I'm rolling some of these over from 2011 and adapting others. We'll see how I go!1) Blog more regularly!2) Go to the gym more regularly3) Take Cara for a day trip to London4) Go for afternoon tea5) Complete 1/2 marathon in September!6) Take Cara to Disneyland Paris7) Pay off credit card8) Complete a quilt9) Go on a night sleeper train10)Lose weight!

2011As 2010 closes, I am beginning to look to 2011 and, instead of making New Year's resolutions am more thinking of an 'ambition list'. Some things have been on my 'to do' list for a long time. Others are just things I want to achieve. I'm hoping that recording here will 'encourage' me more!

1) Blog at least once a week - failed miserably!2) Complete Photo a Day project for 2011 396 photos to represent 365 days.3) Open a bank account for Cara Think she's got more money saved than me!4) Close bank account no longer used5) Pay off student loan6) Pay off catalogue bill7) Pay off store card8) Pay off credit card - Hmmm. Still working on this one!9) Read at least one book a month - fail. I did read a fair few - especially when I discovered the Kindle app for my phone!10) Go to the gym at least three times a week - didn't manage this for the whole year, but I did for a fair while.11) Buy an external hard drive and back up lap top12) Enter ballot for tickets for the olympics So, I didn't get any, but I did apply!13) Go on a family picnic14) Finish making (at least) one quilt (of the many that have been started) - still many unfinished!15) Play Pooh Sticks Went to Pooh corner and tried to play Pooh Sticks. It was very dry though!16) Buy a dress for the school prom - didn't go to the prom, so didn't need a dress!17) Watch four 'classic' films I've never seen before - fail. I did join Love Film, but I didn't watch any classics!18) Go for afternoon tea - will definately try this one this year!19) Go camping Went with C and my nieces. Had a fabulous time. They keep asking me when we can go again!20) Write our wills - fail. I guess the thing on this years list will be to sort out the divorce as opposed to the wills!21) Go to the theatre saw The Jersey Boys22) Go to a London market Went to Greenwich Market a few times as well as Borough Market. Loved it!23) Take Cara on a train We went on the Tenterden Steam train with Nanny and Grandad - brilliant!24) Run a mile in 7 minutes (last achieved c.1999) - fail. I focused on running 1.6km which I managed to do in a time I was proud of. This year the focus will be on distance as opposed to speed!25) Get a gait analysis done